Overview
- ESPN reported the telecast averaged 1.50 million viewers with a peak near 1.8 million, up 20% from last year.
- The broadcast ranks behind only Caitlin Clark’s 2024 draft, which averaged 2.45 million and peaked at 3.09 million.
- The event has topped one million viewers for three straight years, signaling sustained interest beyond one star class.
- Nielsen now blends smart‑TV and set‑top box data with its traditional panel, a change analysts say may lift counts but not enough to fully account for a 20% jump.
- Draft-night moments helped draw attention, including Dallas using its first pick on UConn guard Azzi Fudd and an exchange with Commissioner Cathy Engelbert that drew online criticism.